Supposing Liverpool get themselves a brand new centre-forward this summer time, Arne Slot has the potential to forge a very particular outfit down Anfield Street, able to dominating European soccer for a few years to return.
Liverpool have already wrapped up offers for Bayer Leverkusen duo Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, whereas in the present day is Tuesday, and it is now Milos Kerkez week.
With out query, FSG aren’t spinning their wheels this summer time, appearing with intent to safe the core of Slot’s squad over the approaching years.
Whereas signing a centre-forward may be very a lot on the radar, Darwin Nunez’s sale to Napoli should be finalised (Saudi Arabian suitors are additionally eager) earlier than ahead motion can happen on that entrance.
In the meantime, Liverpool are being pressured to deal with the opportunity of dropping considered one of their star forwards in Luis Diaz.
Why Liverpool might promote Luis Diaz
Again at the beginning of the month, Diaz spoke of his future on Merseyside, spoke of discussions held with potential suitors. He known as it a pure a part of the switch window, particularly within the earlier levels. He is proper.
Barcelona have a historic curiosity that they tried to behave on, however Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes retorted within the unfavorable after they made their method. Barca, it is felt, haven’t got the monetary sway to fulfill FSG’s calls for. Diaz is without doubt one of the greatest wingers in Europe, in spite of everything.
Nevertheless, Bayern Munich do have some moolah mendacity about and have reportedly since made their very own enquiry for the 28-year-old Colombian, who scored 17 objectives and equipped eight assists for the English champions in 2024/25. Cody Gakpo can also be on the German giants’ wishlist.
Diaz is coming into the next-to-last 12 months of his Liverpool contract, however he’ll solely be bought if a becoming proposal is tabled. One thing within the area of €80m (£68m), maybe.
Ought to Diaz go, although, he’d must be changed.
It should be confused that the likelihood of this one coming to fruition is low, however in accordance with switch insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are enthusiastic about signing Bradley Barcola this summer time.
The truth is, FSG have already made an official enquiry as they give the impression of being to signal the silky Paris Saint-Germain star. Nevertheless, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis are additionally eager on the winger, who has emerged as one of many main forwards in Europe over the previous 12 months.
As such, PSG have responded to calls by stating the 22-year-old just isn’t on the market. Although it isn’t explicitly acknowledged, Bailey suggests Liverpool can be keen to fork out one other £100m this summer time, whereas discussing the intrigue surrounding Barcola.
Why Liverpool need Bradley Barcola
If considered one of Liverpool’s largest skills in Diaz leaves, a becoming alternative shall be wanted to stability the output and guarantee Mohamed Salah just isn’t encumbered by much more duty than he carried final time period, albeit to a title-winning impact.
Barcola might definitely be that man, for the rising star has confirmed himself able to taking the step from good prospect to world-class famous person below Luis Enrique’s wing on the Parc des Princes, scoring 14 objectives and supplying ten assists throughout simply 27 league begins in 2024/25, creating 18 massive probabilities and averaging 1.5 key passes per recreation, as per Sofascore.
Becoming a member of PSG from Ligue 1 rivals Lyon in 2023 for a €45m (about £38m) price, Barcola has solely gone from energy to energy in a Parisian shirt, principally fielded off the left flank but additionally having tasted really on the suitable and in a central berth.
Bradley Barcola – Senior Profession So Far (all comps) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Season | Apps | Targets | Assists |
24/25 – PSG | 60 | 21 | 20 |
23/24 – PSG | 42 | 5 | 9 |
22/23 – Lyon | 35 | 7 | 10 |
21/22 – Lyon | 13 | 0 | 2 |
Information through Transfermarkt |
Have been he to take Diaz’s left wing spot (with the opportunity of appearing just like the extra skilled man in a false-nine-type function), Barcola would certainly forge an unbelievable alliance with Wirtz, whose “generational” ball-playing high quality – as has been commented on by journalist Chris Stonadge – would see the Frenchman picked out in promising place with scary regularity.
Furthermore, Wirtz’s off-the-ball intelligence is a formidable factor too, and as Barcola utilises his rapidity down the wing, the Germany worldwide can weave into area and gather a cross, strike on purpose.
Wirtz will carry creativity and a bouncing athletic type to Anfield, however Barcola would amplify that after which some by means of his fleet-footedness and electrical dribbling, ranked as he was among the many prime 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues final time period for purpose contributions, the highest 9% for progressive carries and the highest 7% for goal-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.
Aim-creating actions are items of play that result in a purpose. These embrace moments akin to a cross, take-on or foul being drawn.
Assume Diaz, however much more energetic, much more potent within the closing third. Barcola will gather the ball and transfer into the hazard space at breakneck tempo, making inroads into enemy defensive territory after sweeping passes from, you guessed it, Wirtz.
Bagging the German is unbelievable sufficient for Slot’s undertaking, but when a budding famous person in Barcola will be signed as effectively, there isn’t any telling how vivid the longer term could be for the Premier League champions.
PSG may need issued an emphatic no to hungry suitors, however that hardly means a transfer could not be brokered, significantly if his reported £100m price ticket is met.
Any transfer for Barcola hinges on Diaz’s (or Gakpo’s) summer time sale, and if such an eventuality does come about, Barcola would possibly simply be the proper alternative.
He is but to grasp his potential, and he is already “probably the greatest wingers on the planet”, as has been mentioned by analyst Ben Mattinson. Liverpool have to get it performed.
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